Pioneering Engineer Dr. Tsu-Jae King Liu to Receive Semiconductor Industry’s Top Honor

In a landmark recognition of trailblazing innovation and leadership, Dr. Tsu-Jae King Liu, the newly elected President of the National Academy of Engineering has been named the 2025 recipient of the Global Semiconductor Alliance’s highest accolade: the Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award. Announced on October 23, 2025, this prestigious honor underscores Liu’s profound influence on semiconductor technology, from groundbreaking inventions that power modern computing to her steadfast advocacy for engineering education and global collaboration. The award, to be presented at GSA’s Annual Awards Celebration on December 4, 2025, in San Jose, California, celebrates individuals whose visionary contributions have reshaped the $662 billion industry.

The Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award, established in 1999 and named after TSMC founder Dr. Morris Chang, honors exceptional figures who drive innovation, growth, and long-term opportunities in semiconductors. It recognizes creativity that yields measurable impacts, such as fostering company growth or advancing the supply chain, and is open to nominees from academia, industry, government, or venture capital. Administered by GSA’s Awards Committee and approved by its Board, the award is selective—sometimes withheld if no candidate meets its rigorous standards. Liu joins an elite cadre of past honorees, including Chang himself, whose leadership at TSMC revolutionized chip manufacturing.

Born in Taiwan and raised in the United States, Liu’s journey exemplifies the fusion of academic rigor and practical ingenuity. She earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1984, 1986, and 1994, respectively. Her early career at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (1992–1996) focused on thin-film transistor technology, enabling the high-definition flat-panel displays that dominate consumer electronics today. In 1996, she joined the University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences, where she spent over 25 years as a professor, amassing more than 550 publications and 97 U.S. patents.

Liu’s crowning achievement is her co-invention of the FinFET in collaboration with Berkeley colleagues Chenming Hu and Jeffrey Bokor. Introduced in the early 2000s, this nanoscale design overcame the limitations of traditional planar transistors, allowing chips to shrink dramatically while boosting performance and efficiency. FinFETs underpin advanced processors in smartphones, servers, and AI systems, enabling Moore’s Law to persist amid physical constraints. Her work earned accolades like the DARPA Significant Technical Achievement Award, the IEEE Kiyo Tomiyasu Award for pioneering contributions to electronics engineering, and the Intel Outstanding Researcher in Nanotechnology Award. In 2017, she was elected to the NAE; in 2018, to the National Academy of Inventors. As an IEEE Fellow, Liu also received the IEEE Founders Medal in 2024 for her lifetime of innovation.

Beyond research, Liu’s leadership has amplified her impact. At Berkeley, she chaired the EECS department (2014–2016), served as Vice Provost for Academic and Space Planning (2016–2018), and led the College of Engineering as Dean (2018–2025). In these roles, she championed interdisciplinary initiatives, diversified STEM participation, and forged industry ties to address talent shortages. Her mentorship earned her the EECS EE Division Outstanding Teaching Award in 2003 and UC Berkeley’s Distinguished Teaching Award. Elected NAE President in 2025, Liu now advises on national engineering priorities, including the CHIPS Act’s workforce needs. She has served on boards for Intel and MaxLinear and as a NIST Industrial Advisory Committee member, bridging academia and industry.

“Tsu-Jae King Liu’s leadership and groundbreaking contributions have helped shape the future of semiconductor technology and the talent who power it,” said Jodi Shelton, GSA CEO. “Her influence spans industry and academia, and her example continues to inspire generations of innovators. We are proud to honor her as the first woman in academia to receive the Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award.”

Liu’s Taiwanese heritage adds poignant resonance. “I am deeply honored to have been selected as the 2025 Dr. Morris Chang Exemplary Leadership Award recipient, especially since my ancestral roots are in Taiwan where Dr. Chang’s leadership has had transformative impact,” she stated. “I have been very fortunate to work with – and learn from – many exemplary leaders, and to be part of a vibrant, global community that advances technology for the benefit of people and society.”

This award arrives at a pivotal moment for semiconductors, amid geopolitical tensions and surging demand for AI and clean energy tech. Liu’s holistic approach—merging invention with equitable education—positions her to guide the NAE in tackling these challenges. As GSA’s event draws over 1,500 leaders, her recognition not only celebrates past triumphs but ignites future ones, ensuring the industry’s innovations serve humanity broadly. In an era demanding resilient supply chains and diverse talent, Dr. Liu’s legacy illuminates the path forward, proving that exemplary leadership transcends borders and disciplines.

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